BOCA RATON, Fla.—The Barry University baseball team (24-11-1, 6-5 SSC) swept a Sunshine State Conference doubleheader from the Lynn Fighting Knights at the McCusker Sports Complex on Saturday in dramatic fashion.

 

The Knights (23-11, 6-5 SSC) built a 5-1 lead after six innings in the first ballgame. Nicolas Boisvert ripped a lead off homer in the first and George Brandner hit a solo shot of his own in the second. Ricky Gerena and Steve Somers had RBI doubles in the fourth and sixth innings respectively.

 

Lynn took a 6-2 lead into the top of the ninth when the wheels began to come off. Cesar Aranguren clubbed his eighth homer of the year with one out to trim the lead to 6-3. Nick Corbeil, Brian Martinez and Brett Rossi each singled to loads the bases and Bobby Hartney ripped a two-run double to left, scoring Corbeil and pinch runner Danny Aguiar. Alex Meneses was given an intentional pass to re-load the bases and Jerry Thornton tied up the game with a sacrifice fly to left. Andrew Frezza knocked in the go-ahead run with a double and Orestes Gonzalez followed with a two-run double to make it 9-8.

 

Lynn did not go down easily in the ninth, however. Buccaneer closer Jesse Naber hit Jimmy Bacon to lead off the inning and later walked Felix Martinez and hit Brandner to load the bases with one out. Gerena singled to center to knock in Bacon, but Thornton made a perfect throw to the plate to cut down Martinez. After Somer singled to re-load the bases, Gonzalez misplayed a ground ball by Jason Ten Eyck allowing pinch runner to score an bring the Knights to within one run, 9-8. David Bernat came on to retire Boisvert on a groundball to second base and collect his second save of the season.

 

Bobby Hernandez (2-0) who worked two innings in relief of starter Jayson Brown got the win for the Bucs. He allowed just one run, a homer by Bacon in the seventh, on four hits, walked one and struck out two. Knights' relief ace, Craig Sheets, who leads the SSC with eight saves, was rocked for four runs on three hits and a walk in one third of an inning to take the loss.

 

Aranguren's homer in the ninth inning tied him with Irain Gonzalez (1998-2001) at 180 atop the Buccaneer career RBI chart.

 

In the nightcap, Ray Rhoads (4-0) tossed a complete-game shutout, scattering five hits and four walks over seven innings, striking out eight. He was aided by three double plays.

 

Gonzalez doubled to lead off the second inning and scored on a fly ball by Corbeil. Aranguren singled and came home on a groundball by Rossi.

 

Gonzalez made it 3-0 with a solo homer in the fourth, while Frezza put the capper on the day with a two-run triple in the fifth.

 

Lonnie Patterson (4-1) took the loss for the Knights, despite pitching a complete game of his own. He allowed all five runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out four.

 

The teams will conclude their series on Sunday, Apr. 2 at noon at the McCusker Sports Complex.

 

(04/01/2006 at Boca Raton, Fla.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Barry............... 001 000 107  -  9 18  2      (23-11-1, 5-5 SSC)

Lynn................ 110 102 102  -  8 14  3      (23-10, 6-4 SSC)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Pitchers: Barry - Brown; Hernandez(7); Naber(9); Bernat(9). Lynn - Bennett; Nunn(7);

Johnson(8); Sheets(9); Bergin(9).

Win-Hernandez(2-0)  Save-Bernat(2)  Loss-Sheets(1-2)  T-3:55  A-150

HR BUB - Aranguren (8).

HR LUB - Boisvert (4); Bacon (3); Brandner (7).

Game notes:

Bennett faced 2 batters in the 7th.

 

(04/01/2006 at Boca Raton, Fla.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Barry............... 020 120 0 -  5  8  0      (24-11-1, 6-5 SSC)

Lynn................ 000 000 0 -  0  5  0      (23-11, 6-5 SSC)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Pitchers: Barry - Rhoads. Lynn - Patterson.

Win-Rhoads(5-0)  Loss-Patterson(4-1)  T-2:00  A-0

HR BUB - Gonzalez (8).